Making motion pictures



Nov..9 1926,

' 1,606,483 E.SCHUFFTAN MAKING MOTION PICTURES Original il ept- 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9 1926.

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E. SCHUFFTAN MAKING MOTION PICTURES Original Filed p 15, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Java/or EM enJvAd/Wz:

Nov.9,l926.

E.$CHUFFTAN MAKING MOTION PICTURES Original Filed ept 15, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov: 9, 1926.

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*P rsN- 'EUGEN soHiTFF'rAN,

OE BE RLIN-WILMERSDORF, GERMAHY.

MAKING MOTION IIOTUIRES.

Original application filed September 15, 1923, Serial No. 663,01 1,.and-in Germany September 12', 1922. Divided and this application filed September 5, 1925. Serial No. 54,732.

This invention has reference tothe art of making motion pictures ferent objects, and of different scales and it tern slides or projections and are united with the, otherobject into a composite picture by meansof mirrors. difierent parts and the proper is very difficult. photographs in which the different sections union thereof of the picture are photographed simultanesubsequently it is generally very dif ficult to fit the various sections exactly together and to produce the impression of a uniform scale in view of the different distance of the objects from the lens of the apparatus. In the case of photographs taken by means of mirrors the fitting and coalescing is rendered particularly diflicult by the fact that the-shutter and the means of covering-up parts of the object or of the mirror are disposed at diiierent angles with-relation to each other, and this is particularly true with the combination of covering means with ously or semi-transparent mirrors, that is to say, mirupon this the different objects,

rors PIOUCltZd; witha ror coating inasmuch as themirror is mostly positioned so close to the lens of the cam- In view thereof, and in order to overcome V these difficulties myinvention proceeds by first obtaining a diapositive of an existingd and, while 'usingthat portion of the maskfob tained as. heretofore stated which will-cover up the reflecting surface at the point cora model of reduced size, an

the separating that is to say, of that portion where the action is to take place and obj ect' or of diapositive that portion without an action are' clearly.

marked. Such diapositive with these separating'lines is inserted in the from parts of dif-' The mounting of the In -the case of combination.

thin transparent m1r= that it is impossible in sighting to 'dete'r-.

lines of photographic" mark the outlines of the portlons to be cov-- the .model or the like as well as This ered up on upon the mirror and on the shutter. pro ection will have to coincide exactly with the particular portion of the object to be photographed.

After the different portions have been cut out or covered up, the object in natural size will also be executed, so as to correspond exactly to the projection by using light screens on which the outlines and forms of the images become clearly visible. "The points at which the screens are to be disposed correspond to the particular points of intersection of the projected image with the fioor. The procedure may also be carried out in the reverse order by first obtaining a diapositive of the object of natural size with the separating lines.

In order not to reduce the depth and sharpness of shades, it may become necessary sometimes to separate'the photographing of the objects of natural size from the a model of reduced' size. In this case likewise ground .is projected upon an opaque black pieceof paper or the like disposed in-front of the semi-transparent mirror, and upon this opaque piece of paper or the like the outlines-are then marked, the same as on the diapositives. v exactly fittingmasks are obtained which may be placed in front of the mirror, Thereupon the model .is' photographed on a reduced scale through the semi-transparent mirror responding to the natural object. Then the mirror iscovered up by the other portion of the mask so as to only-expose that portion of the mirror corresponding to the object of v a picture of the entire foreground and back- 1 By cutting outatthese points 4 natural size. Upon then covering up the adjust the lens or the shutter in the camera, in order to obtain a sufiicient depth of shade. The procedure last described may also be carried out in the reverse order.

In view of the fact that the masks employed for the covering up of thediiferent sections are mounted at the same point in front of the mirror the exact fitting-of the different portions will be insured. The out-' lines which are marked as separating lines between the two different sections of the picture on the diapositive are preferably made asirregular and broken as possible, so that the complementary portions of the picture will overlap and intersect each other and by this means the result is obtained that the outlines and confines of portions of the tints and shades of'which do not exactly agree cannot be recognized.

The invention will be further and more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example and in a diagrammatic manner an embodiment of the principles of my invention, but without limiting the invention to this particular arrangement. In Fig. 1 I

have shown a perspective view of an arrangement of parts in accordance with the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement with some addition in plan view; Fig. 3 is a diapositive; Fig. 4 is a semi-transparent mirror in longitudinal section and Fig. 5 is a diagram of a mask to be. disposed in front or at the rear of the mirror.

A photographic picture is made of the total object or of the picture used in place thereof, as indicated at 1 in Fig. 1 of the drawing and then a diapositive 2 is made thereof, as'shown in Fig. 3. Upon this dia positive a marking line 3 is drawn. That portion in the interior thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, may, for instance, be erected as a scenery of natural size in which the actors are to perform. This diapositive is inserted in a projeqtionapparatus twhich is disposed at exactly the same point at which the photographic camera will have to be placed. Thereupon the object 1 which maybe a 'modl,'picture, photography or projection picture is so positioned in accordance with the image of the projection apparatus, that it will coincide exactly with such projection. Within the lightof vision extending from the projecting apparatus 4 to the object 1 a mirror 5,is mounted as desired and in such a manner that it will contain the entire projection picture of the diapositive 2. This mirror 5 reflects the total picture laterally at an angle of about 55 to 60 degrees (Fig. 2), and at those points at which the projection of the marking line 3 intersects the floor the complemental portions 6 of the scenery are mounted in such a manner that they will fit exactly the projection of the diapositive. Whenever special masks 7 and 8 are necessar they are insertedin the particular lines of sight and are likewise cut out to correspond with the marking line 3.

When using a mirror with an opaque coating, that portion of the coating which is not required for reflection is removed in accordance with the marking line 3, while, in the case of, the employment of a semitransparent mirror, that portion thereof which should produce a total reflection is provided with a black coating at its rear side. The making of these covers is greatly facilitated in.pursuance of this invention by projecting the diapositive upon a black mask 9 (Figs. 4 and 5) mounted on the mirror 5 and then severing the portions of the mask along the marking line 3. The sections of the mask thus obtained will fit exactly so that they may be used as desired. The inner portion thereof is employed as a means of covering "the mirror at its back side, in order to obtain a satisfactory reflection of the object 6 when the picture is taken, while the remaining portion is employed in order J graphed in succession and separately, the

portions of the mask may be, alternately used. 1

It should be understood that the mode of procedure and arrangement of parts herein shown and described is not to be regarded as a limitation of the invention and that it is susceptible of modifications and changes, without deviating from-the scope-and spirit thereof as defined in the appended claims. I claim-:' 7 i 1. The art of making com osite motion pictures of a set or scene-an a, second set or scene complementary to the first set or scene, which comprises making a diaposi tive of the total set or scene forming the composite picture of the two sets or'scenes, roughly outlining .on said diapositive the periphery of the second set or scene thus dividing the diapositive into two sections, projecting the diapositive on the first set or scene and causingsaid first set 01' scene to register with the projection of the dia ositive, arranging a transparent member 121ving a reflecting surface facing a projection camera, and at an acute angle to t e axis of the projection camera, registering on the reflectingsurface by markings the outlines of the sections of the rojected diapositive, removing a portion the reflecting surface to provide a window in-the transparent member which corresponds to one of the sections, the remaining section of the transparent member masking a portion ofthe first set section of the diap'ositive,

jection camera so the complementary erecting the second set-or scene at a point in the reflected light cone'where the second set or scene wil appear at proper scale with respect to the scale of the other set or scene, then photographing the complementary set or scene by reflection and the first set or sene directly through the window by a camera 'located at the same point wherethe projection camera was located. I

2. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a tary set or scene which comprises making a diapositive ofthe total 'set or scene which includes the two sets or scenes, roughly outlining on said diapositive the complementary set or scene, thusdividing the diapositive into two sections, projecting the diapositive 0n the first set or scene and causing said set or scene to register in the light cone of the projected image of the diapositive, arranging a mask including a reflecting surface between the first set or scene and a prothat the diapositive will mask, roughly outlining or scene and reflecting be projected on the the image complementary set or scene as deincludes the two sets or scenes,

.tive into two sections,

picted by the projected diapositive on the mask, removing the section of themask which corresponds to the first set or sceene, photographing the complementary set or scene by reflection and the first set or scene directly.

3. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or sceneanda complementary set or scene which comprises making a diapositive' of the total set or scene which roughly outlining on said diapositive the complementary set or scene, thus dividingthe diaposifirst set or scene and causing register in the light cone e' of the diapositive, arranging a mask inc uding a reflecting surface between the first set or scene and a projection camera so that the diapositive will be projected on the mask, roughly" outlining the complementary set or scene as depicted by the projection on the mask and removing the section of the mask which corresponds to the first setor scene. reflecting the remaining portion of the diapositive which corresponds to the complementary set or scene, erecting abodil representation at a point in the reflected light cone where the second set orscene will appear at proper-scale with respect to the scale of the other 'scene, phopositive on the said set or scene to of the projected ima complemen-- 'jection camera was located.

'' lining projecting the dia-- sponds to the tographing directly the'first set or scene and the complementary set or scene by reflection.

4. The art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a complementary set or scene which comprises-making a diapositive of the total set or scene which includes the two sets or scenes, roughly outlining on said diapositive the complementary set or scene, thus dividingthe diapositive 1 into two sections, projecting the diapositive .on the first set or scene and causing said set or scene to register in the light cone of the projected image of the diapositive, arrang ing a-transparent member having a reflecting surface covering the same and facing a projection camera so that the projecteddiapositive will exactly fit the reflecting surface, removing a portion of the reflecting-surface which is covered by a section of the projected image corresponding to a part of the first mentioned set or scene to vprovide a sight window, reflecting the remaining section of the diapositive at an angle to the axis of the piojection camera, erecting a bodily representation of the complementary set or scene at a point in the reflected light cone where the second set or scene will appear at proper scale with respect to the scale of the other set or scene, then photographing one of the sets or scenes directly through the window and the other set or era located at the same point where the pro- 5 The art of making composite motion scene by a campictures of a set or scene and a complementary set or s ;ene which comprises making a diapositive of the total set or scene which includes the two sets or scenes, roughly outon said diapositive the complementary set or scenes thus dividing the diapositive into two sections, projecting the diapositive on the first set or scene and causing such set or scene to register in the light cone of the projected image of the diapositire, arranging a mask and at the same time a reflecting surface between the first set or scene and a projection camera so that the diapositive will be projected on the mask, roughly outlining scene as depicted by the projection on the mask so that ,a-portion of the image will extend beyond the outlines on the mask, removing the section of the mask which correfirst set or scene, photograph ing the complementary set or scene by reflection while directly photographing the first set or scene.

6. A step in the art of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a com-- plementary set or scene which comprise making a diapositive of the total set or scene which includes the two sets or scenes. roughly outlining on said diapositive the complementary set or scene thus dividing the the complementary set or from a predetermined point the tween the first set or scene and a projection camera, so that the diapositive will be projected on the mask, roughly outlining the image of the complementary set or scene on the mask as depicted by the projection so that the edges of the image will project beyond the outlines, and then removing the section of the mask which corresponds to the first set or scene.

7. The art ,of making composite motion pictures of a set or scene and a complementary set orscene which comprises making a diapositive -.of the total set or scene including the two sets or scenes, roughly outlining on'said diapositive the complementary set or scene, thus dividing the diapositive into two sections, pro ecting the diaposltlve on the first set or scene, arranglng said set or scene so that said set or scene will register withthe light cone of the projected image of the diapositive, arranging a mask between the first set or scene and a projection camera from which the diapositive was projected so that the diapositive will be projected on the mask, roughly outlining the complementary -set or scene on the mask as depicted by the projection with the projected image extending beyond the outlines, removing the section of the mask which corresponds to the first set or scene to provide a window through which the first set or scene may be directly photo graphed, reflecting an image, of the complementary set or scene at an angle to the light rays from the projection camera, erecting the complementary set or scene at a point in the reflected light cone where the comple-.

mentary set or scene will appear at proper scale with respect to the scaleof the other set or scene, then photographing the complement'ary set or scene by reflection and the other set or scene directly through the window in the mask by a camera located at the same point where the projection camerawaslocated.

8. The art of making composite motion pictures of a plurality of sets or scenes which comprises making a dia ositive of the total set or scene which inclu es the sets or scenes, providing an irregular line by markings on said diapositive, thus dividing the diapositive into two sections, (projecting iapositive on one of the sets or scenes andcausing said setor scene to register with the projection of the diapositive, arranging a transparent member having a reflecting surface with the reflecting surface facing a projection camera and between the first set or scene and the "projection camera so that an image of the diapositive will be formed on the reflecting surface, registering on the reflecting surface by irregular markin s the outlines of. the sections of the rojectiongremoving a portion of the reflecting surface which corresplonds to the set or scene in directline wit the projection camera to provide a sight window in the transparent member through which said set or scene may be photographed, the remaining section of the 7 reflecting surface masking a portion of said set or scene while reflectingthe light rays of the second section of the diapositive which corresponds to a second set or scene at an angle to the axis of the projection camera, erecting a screen at a predetermined point in .the light cone of the reflected image where the second set or scene will appear at the proper scale relating to the scale of the other set or scene, erecting a bodily representation of the reflected complementary image at said point in the light cone, and photographing the erected complementary set 01' scene by reflection and the other set or scene directly from the same point where the projection camera was located.

9. A step in the art of making composite motion pictures of a plurality of sets or scenes which comprise making a diapositive of the total set or scene which includes the sets or scenes, providing an irregular line by markings on said diapositive thus dividing the diapositive into two sectiohs, projecting at a redetermined point light'rays through the diapositive by a projection camera, ar- 1 ranging a mask in the unsharp zone of the light rays and across said rays so-that an image of the diapositive will be formed on the mask, removing one section of the mask to provide a sight window therethrough with the the light rays in the window being projected beyond the mask, and erecting a set or scene at a point in the light rays which project beyond the mask and where said scene will be in' focus in a photographic camera located at the same. point where the projection camera is located.

10. A step in the art of making composite motion ictures of a plurality of sets or scenes w ich comprise making a diapositive of the total set or scene which 'includesthe sets or scenes providing an irregular line by markings on said diapositive, thus dividing the diapositivei'nto two sections, arranging a projection camera at a predetermined point and projecting the diapositive from the camera, arranging a reflecting surface across the light rays and in the unsharp zone of the light rays from the projection camera, so that an image of the dia osi-tive will be formed on the reflecting sur ace, re-

-moving a portion of the reflecting surface part of the light rays heing reflected at an reflected light rays, the sets or scenes bein angle to the axis of the pro ecti0n camera, erected at-a point 1n bot-h ofthe separate while the remaining portion of the light light rays where the image of said scenes -1o photographc camera ravs will be projectedbeyond the reflecting W111 appear to scale in a, 5 surface, and erecting a set 01' scene at :1 located at a pomt where the pr0]ect10n point in the light rays which are projectedcamera is located. beyondthe mirror, and a set or scene in the EUGEN SCHU'FFTAN; 

